Emirati team puts up tough fight against the world's best

Home team puts in a strong performance at the inaugural World Professional Jiu Jitsu Cup, raising hopes for the sport's future.

Faisal Fahed Alkitbi from Abu Dhabi pins down Yazan Janeb of Jordan at the World Professional Jiu Jitsu Cup at Zayed Sports City.

ABU DHABI // The home team put in a strong performance at the inaugural World Professional Jiu Jitsu Cup in the capital over the weekend, raising hopes of a bright future for the sport in the country. Sixteen fighters out of a total of 45 from the UAE made it to the final round yesterday, which was bettered only by Brazil, with 18 finalists.

"The UAE team has proved that they are as good as any other team from anywhere else in the world," said their coach, Carlos Santos, a three-time jiu jitsu world champion. "Now I've shown that the UAE has great jiu jitsu." Around 2,000 martial arts fans crowded into Lawn Tennis Complex of Zayed Sports City to watch the world's best jiu jitsu experts in action, including the Brazilians Marcelo Garcia, Brauilo Estima, Rubens Charles and Robson Moura.

Mr Santos said the large turn-out gave him confidence that the sport had a great deal of potential in the Emirates. "The success of this event shows that this sport really can be popular here. The team have performed so well, which will mean it will grow more and more, much more quickly," he said. "Next year I hope this crowd will double and the numbers will just keep on rising." The two-day championship, held in the UAE for the first time, drew 222 contestants from 32 countries.

There were four competitors from the US in the final round, three each from the UK, Bahrain and Jordan, two from Egypt, and one each from Kuwait, Spain, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Japan and Australia. The final results were not available as matches were still in progress late in the night. Prizes for the winners of the various divisions of the championship total US$111,000 (Dh407,700). Among the early winners last night was Faisal Fahed Alkitbi of Abu Dhabi, who beat Yazan Janeb of Jordan in the final of the under-88 kilogram weight category, and took home $2,500.

The event was organised by the Armed Forces Officers Club together with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the UAE Wrestling, Judo and Jiu Jitsu Association. Mr Santos, who is originally from Brazil, has worked to develop jiu jitsu in the Emirates since arriving in Abu Dhabi nearly seven years ago. He has also worked with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council to introduce the sport in schools, culminating in an inter-schools tournament.

Brazil and Japan are the two foremost nations in jiu jitsu, a martial art that derives from early 20th-century Kodokan Judo and Japanese jujutsu. [e-mail]